Center for Counseling & Mental HealthOur Staff

Darien F.S. McFadden, received his BA in psychology and English Literature from Colgate University and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his doctoral internship at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Center for Counseling and Psychological Health.  Darien initially worked at the CCMH from 1992 to 1998. Following that, he worked at Behavioral Health Network/Pioneer Valley Mental Health Services in Springfield, MA. and later, at Hampshire College Counseling Services, before returning to Amherst in 2006. Darien's varied clinical interests include college mental health, identity development and awareness, sexual orientation, gender, and coming-out issues, conflicts around race, culture and ethnicity, male body-image, family systems, depression, and self-care.

Sarah J. Erickson (she/her) received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Sarah has a broad range of experience having worked in inpatient, community mental health, and college settings. Her theoretical orientation integrates psychodynamic, developmental, cognitive behavioral, narrative, multicultural, and systems theories; however, she believes that the relationship is the most important aspect of therapy. Sarah has a particular interest in work that encompasses identity development and the intersections of identity, white identity, trauma, adjustment, anxiety, family dysfunction, self-care, depression, and sexual orientation, and assistance with the integration of newly diagnosed mental illness into one's self-concept.

Jordan Barnard completed his Psy.D in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hartford. He completed his internship and a post-doctoral fellowship (with a concentration in psychological assessment) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Jordan spent 4 years at Penn State University prior to coming to Amherst College. In addition to his work in collegiate mental health, Jordan has done rotations within inpatient mental health settings, rehabilitation hospitals, the juvenile court system, and VA healthcare. Jordan's clinical interests include working with student-athletes, men's health, gender identity and the intersection of multiple identities, social justice issues, training and supervision of psychology, and the use of psychological assessment during the therapeutic process. His orientation is integrative in nature with themes from time-limited dynamic psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, acceptance and commitment, and narrative therapy.

Britt Billmeyer-Finn (she/they) received her MSW from Smith School for Social Work and has spent much of their time in the field working with the LGBTQ+ population exploring the expanse of gender and sexuality and offering gender-affirming care. Britt is a trauma-informed therapist with an integrative therapeutic style that includes but is not limited to psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, relational, acceptance and commitment therapies as well as experiential mindfulness and sensorimotor psychoeducation.  Their theoretical lens is also informed by feminist, queer, disability justice and critical race theories.

Allyson Black-Foley received her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the team at Amherst, she worked at Swarthmore College, in private practice, and in K-8 schools in Philadelphia. Her practice is informed by an appreciation of the ways in which structural and societal oppression contribute to mental health. Her clinical interests include gender and sexuality, identity development, trauma and recovery, issues related to family of origin, and life transitions.

Annery Lola Brown received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Springfield College. Her broad clinical work encompasses community mental health with a specialty in substance use disorders. She has been teaching as an  Adjunct Professor for over eight years in Western Massachusetts and recently returned to her alma mater, Springfield College's graduate program as an Adjunct Professor. Fluent in Spanish and English, she provides clinical services in both languages. Her theoretical orientation integrates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, strength-focused, trauma-informed, and narrative therapy. Lola enjoys working collaboratively with individuals to self-advocate, build resiliency and explore an individual’s infinite potential to author and narrate their own stories.

Caitlin Carmody received her Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work. Before joining the team at the CCMH, she worked in community mental health, with a focus on providing affirming psychotherapy services to LGBTQIA+ clients. She takes an integrative approach to therapeutic work, incorporating psychodynamic, relational, systems, and DBT theories and tools. Her clinical interests include identity development, trauma, perfectionism, issues related to family of origin, and the ways that privilege, oppression and marginalization shape our internal and external experiences. 

Abbie earned her B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Women’s/Gender Studies from Simmons College in
2017, and her CMA (AAMA) from Porter & Chester Institute in 2022. Abbie is passionate about helping
others, and assisting the CCMH staff in providing the best care possible to Amherst College
students. Abbie’s professional interests include women’s and trans health, gender and sexuality, and the
intersections of privilege and inequality.

Garrett Fitzgerald received his M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Marywood University and has since worked in a variety of higher-ed settings across the Northeast. Garrett has over ten years of experience working in college mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on the role of drugs and alcohol on the college campus. He works within a holistic health framework and leverages public health models to advance to work of mental health promotion and support on campus. He believes in the role of the community in creating a supportive environment for growth and success and is committed to personal and professional growth around issues of inequality, oppression, and marginalization. Garrett supports the work of the Student Wellness Team and offers a variety of training, workshops, and programs on behalf of CCMH.

Emma Galvin is thrilled to be a new member of the CCMH team as a post grad fellow. Emma is an NYC native, and a recent graduate of Smith School for Social Work. She comes from a background in the arts, and holds a bachelor of fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University. Her training and orientation is psychodynamic as well as strengths based and collaborative. Her primary areas of interest include gender identity and sexuality, relationship structures and family systems, grief and loss, and group therapy. Emma’s values and approach come from a social justice and anti racist lens, with the acknowledgement of each individual’s unique intersectionalities, that informs who they are and how they move through the world. Emma is passionate about showing up authentically for her clients, traveling, food, her dog, cooking, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, taking advantage of the great outdoors of Western Mass., and her family and friends.

Tanner Glen (he/him) earned his B.S. degree in psychology from Northern Arizona University and his
Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University. Tanner has experience working in
community mental health, college settings, and group private practice in both case management and
therapy capacities. His theoretical orientation integrates strengths-based, systems, intersectional,
narrative, and dialectical behavioral perspectives to provide therapy from a holistic lens. It is Tanner’s
firm belief that every person has multiple forms of strengths and resilience within, and everyone
occasionally needs some assistance to access and improve them. Tanner’s goal in therapy is to make this
process something that not only feels possible, but sustainable as well. Through a highly collaborative
approach, Tanner seeks to create an environment in which the individual is comfortable to feel, express,
and grow in any direction that leads them to their favorite version of themselves.

Cassiel Owens (she/her) received her MSW from the Smith College School for Social Work. She has worked in various settings prior to joining the team at CCMH, including community mental health organizations, as well as day and boarding secondary schools. Some of her clinical interests include supporting individuals who are healing from trauma, navigating grief, living with developmental disabilities, negotiating major life transitions, coping with the impacts of institutional racism, creating and finding internal and external affirming spaces in a hetero/cis-
normative culture, and finding peace and making meaning in the midst of difficulty. Her clinical orientation draws from humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, somatic, and compassion and mindfulness-based theories and practices. She endeavors to support an empowering space in counseling in which one’s voice is honored and one’s growth and healing is generated from within. 

Cailin Qualliotine is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and is nationally credentialed as a registered art therapist. She earned a PsyD in clinical psychology at Antioch University Seattle. Cailin approaches counseling from a strengths-based perspective that emphasizes an understanding of the whole person within their cultural and experiential contexts. Central to her practice is the development of a supportive, trusting relationship where students feel valued, and respected. Cailin is informed by contemporary relational psychodynamic theory, and systems theories which emphasize interdisciplinary understandings of intersectional identities and social justice. Cailin is skilled in collaborative therapeutic engagement with students as they deepen their sense of personal meaning, purpose and insight. She invites curiosity, humor and self-compassion through her work with others. Over the course of her clinical career, Cailin has provided counseling and assessment services primarily in college counseling and community mental health settings. Prior to taking the staff counselor position at Amherst College, Cailin was the director of the Prevention and Recovery in Early Psychosis Program (PREP) in Holyoke, MA.

Zamir Nestelbaum is a licensed psychiatrist. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc., and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Nestelbaum has his MD from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and an MPH from the University of Michigan. He has held a variety of leadership positions, including chief of Psychiatry at community hospitals. He has spent many years teaching psychiatric residents and medical students. In addition, he has spent his entire career seeing outpatients in various settings, which has included work with college students. Dr. Nestelbaum believes strongly in a biopsychosocial model of treatment that emphasizes that every person is a unique individual. He believes strongly in a collaborative model of treatment with other therapists and specialists.

Crystal Richey received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental  Health Counseling from Bay Path College. Her varied experiences in community mental health encompassed providing clinical treatment and other therapeutic support to youth and their families. Crystal believes that connecting with a person in a genuine way that creates a place of safety and a feeling of being seen and heard is the foundation of therapy. She integrates this philosophy into her trauma-informed, strengths-based, and solution-focused approaches to treatment and care. Crystal endeavors to provide this care and more in educating the Black community about the importance of seeking mental health support.

Kirstin Ritchie attended Yale University where she received her Master's of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Prior to this she worked at Harvard School of Medicine doing research with Drosophila melanogaster. She decided on a career change so that she could work clinically with individuals. She has experience across a broad array of settings including inpatient, outpatient, and addiction clinics. She believes in working with students from a holistic perspective and understands the interplay between the body and mind. She works collaboratively with students to understand the use of medication alongside lifestyle changes and therapeutic techniques. 

Nicole E. Torres Collado, LCSW (she/her) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a minor in International Affairs from the University of Puerto Rico. She received her Master of Social Work from Springfield College. She has spent most of her time working with elementary and middle school students and their families as well as community development. She is a trauma-informed therapist and looks forward to working with the Amherst student body.